VIDEO: Peters Convenes Commerce Subcommittee Field Hearing at Lansing City Hall on Impact of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in Michigan

LANSING, MI - U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Surface Transportation, Maritime, Freight, and Ports, convened a field hearing at Lansing City Hall to examine the impact of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, on Michigan's transportation infrastructure. The hearing highlighted the benefits, opportunities and challenges experienced by local stakeholders in implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law on the state and local level, including in the rollout of funding in rural, urban, and suburban areas throughout Michigan. Witnesses shared insight into how funding authorized under this legislation is helping to strengthen Michigan's infrastructure and create jobs and provided feedback on how to improve access to this critical funding across the state.

"These projects aren't just building new infrastructure. They are improving public health, economic development, the future of clean energy and so much more. We're just beginning to see the full effect of this legislation. That's why our work is far from over," said Senator Peters. "The next step is to understand the details of how this law has been implemented. We need to hear directly from local stakeholders - the people on the ground, seeing these projects up close. This won't just allow us to better utilize the resources of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, it will also lay the groundwork for future legislation and help us understand where we're still falling short."

To watch video of the field hearing, clickhere.For text of Peters' opening remarks as prepared, click here.

During the hearing, Peters discussed the importance of Bipartisan Infrastructure funding for rail and port projects in Michigan, supporting everything from the extension of passenger rail service along three intercity rail corridors across Michigan, including service into downtown Detroit, to expanded freight capacity at the Port of Monroe and the Port of Menominee that will bolster Michigan's and the nation's critical supply chains. MDOT Director Bradley C. Wieferich discussed the importance of continued funding to fully realize the opportunity posed by expanding passenger rail service to the revitalized Michigan Central Station and beyond and emphasized the impact the BIL has had across Michigan.

"Overall, the IIJA provides five years of certainty for planning and makes it possible for MDOT to implement $1 billion in additional projects over the five years of the authorization. Transportation projects take years, sometimes decades, to bring from the planning table to construction and predictable funding is vital to that process." said Wieferich.

Peters also highlighted the Streamlining Federal Grants Act, bipartisan legislation he introduced that seeks to modernize administration of federal grant programs to ensure all communities have an equal opportunity to access funding. Capt. Paul C. LaMarre III, Director of the Port of Monroe and President of the American Great Lakes Ports Association, emphasized the importance of this legislation and shared what streamlining the grant process could mean for Michigan communities.

"What we want to see is the efficient and cost-effective implementation of these grants, but also the construction of that infrastructure," said LaMarre. "We want to see the public dollar go as far as possible, and the current process needs improvement."

Peters went on to applaud several grants awarded in Southeast Michigan communities from the DOT's Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program, which is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Amy O'Leary, Executive Director of the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), spoke to the importance of this program's flexibility for making necessary infrastructure improvements across the region.

"One of the great things about the RAISE Program is that it is a way to fund large programs the formula funding just can't do. The importance for those large projects to be retained in authorization is critically important," said O'Leary. "Transportation needs and solutions aren't singular, so being able to allow for what makes sense in Pontiac may be different than what makes sense in Detroit… this does that, and we are very appreciative."

Marty Fittante, Chief Executive Officer of InvestUP, provided insight into different challenges faced by rural communities when it comes transportation infrastructure, specifically air service.

"From our perspective, we've got to figure out a way to address that issue because it is so critical. From our lens, it's not a transportation issue alone, it's really an economic development issue," said Fittante. "To get in and out of the Upper Peninsula right now, in light of what the current flight schedule looks like and in light of what the investment looks like, it's really a three-day business trip. As we try to develop business, as we try to attract business, that's largely a non-starter."

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also allows for surface transportation funds to be used for establishing registered apprenticeship programs, a provision Peters helped fight for in this legislation. Mike Aaron, Business Manager of the Michigan Laborers, Local 1191, discussed the role of these programs for growing our workforce and supporting good-paying jobs for Michiganders.

"The answer to these challenges that these employers face has always been registered apprenticeships. These apprenticeship programs not only get employers the high-skilled labor need, they also give people the skills they need to feed their family and maintain their place - or achieve their place - in the middle class," said Aaron. "It's the most proven career pipeline for tomorrow's more diverse and equitable workforce."

In 2021, Peters helped Congress pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which authorized robust funding for transportation and port infrastructure projects across the country. More than $10 billion has been awarded to more than 500 projects across Michigan since this landmark legislation was signed into law.

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